Water quality

Salford Quays was once part of the thriving Manchester Docks, built over 110 years ago at the head of the Manchester Ship Canal. The Docks established Manchester as the third busiest port in England. However by the 1970s containerisation and changing trade patterns led to their demise.

In 1983 Salford City Council purchased 37 hectares of docklands and has transformed it into the new commercial, residential and leisure quarter we know today.

The Quays was badly polluted by the waters of the Ship Canal but in 1987 a water quality management strategy was introduced to combat this. The dock basins were isolated from the Ship Canal with the aim of improving water quality and creating a focal point for new development.

Bunds (dams) were constructed across the three former docks and the resulting basins were treated like enormous fish tanks, with an artificial mixing system using compressed air to maintain oxygen levels.

By 1989 water quality had improved to such an extent that 12,000 coarse fish were introduced into the enclosed waters. Growth rates observed since stocking have indicated that the Quays supports some of the fastest growing species in the UK - testimony to the environmental and habitat improvements achieved. The significance of this achievement was recognised by the Institute of Fisheries Management and the Angling Foundation, who awarded Salford Quays the UK's most prestigious fisheries award, The Good Management Award.

The water quality in the Quays is tested by APEM, a dedicated science based environmental consultancy concerned exclusively with the aquatic environment. Although water in Salford Quays has not been designated as 'Bathing Waters' the European Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) is used as a monitoring framework to safeguard the health of water users.

APEM field scientists monitor the waters at eight locations within Salford Quays every two weeks. The comprehensive monitoring programme includes the analysis of total and faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, salmonella, enteroviruses, phytoplankton, phenols, heavy metals and cyanides.

Test results are available from the Watersports Centre.

This page was last updated on 8 February 2012